The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo State, Anugbom Onuoha, has refuted allegations made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accusing him of denying access to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) ahead of the recent gubernatorial elections.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Onuoha described the accusations as “baseless, misleading, and devoid of truth,” clarifying that he did not deny any political party or their representatives access to BVAS inspection.
He emphasized that it is the duty of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant such access whenever requested, in compliance with electoral laws.
The PDP had earlier alleged that INEC officials in Edo State, acting under directives, deliberately blocked the party and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, from inspecting election materials, including BVAS machines, in defiance of a court order from the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
The party claimed that APC-affiliated thugs and unscrupulous police officers were involved in obstructing the process.
Onuoha firmly denied these allegations, reiterating that any political party interested in challenging the election results is free to do so through lawful means.
He assured that the inspection of the BVAS and other election materials would proceed as scheduled, inviting all political parties, including the PDP, to participate in the inspection on Wednesday.
“INEC remains committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency, fairness, and integrity in all electoral processes,” Onuoha stated, reaffirming the commission’s dedication to ensuring transparency.
He urged stakeholders and the public to disregard the misinformation, stressing that INEC’s loyalty is to the Constitution, the Nigerian people, and the rule of law.
He also noted that any party wishing to inspect the election materials should follow the proper legal procedures, assuring full cooperation from his office.
